Houlihan passed away from cancer Sept. 16. The Encinitas City Council voted 4-0 earlier this month to appoint a replacement to fill the rest of her term, which ends December 2012. A special election would cost more than $320,000 and could not be held until February.

The city received eight applications as of 10:15 a.m. Thursday, including one from Lisa Shaffer, whom Houlihan endorsed for the 2012 race in a video filmed a few weeks before she died.

The other applicants are Tony Brandenberg, Alan Lerchbaker, David Drielsma, Robert Campbell, Joel King, Robert Schneider and Kent Mesplay. Brandenburg is on the city's Planning Commission. Drielsma, Campbell and King are on the city's Senior Commission.

Applications can be delivered in person to the City Clerk's office at City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave. For more information, contact City Clerk Deborah Cervone at (760) 633-2601 or by e-mail at dcervone@ci.encinitas.ca.us.